The Flockton Flyer
A children's series about reopening a closed branch railway.
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The Flockton Flyer is a British children's television series produced by Southern Television for the ITV network, first broadcast in 1977. It follows the Carter family as they reopen and run a closed branch railway line, reflecting the contemporary heritage railway movement. The series provided early screen appearances for actors such as Peter Duncan and Gwyneth Strong.
Background
The Flockton Flyer was created by scriptwriter Peter Whitbread, who wrote 17 episodes, of which 12 were filmed across two series. The first series aired in January 1977, the second in early 1978, both on Monday afternoons at 4:45 pm. The series was repeated on ITV in 1978 and 1980, and later on cable and satellite channels including The Children's Channel, Film 24, and Talking Pictures TV. Location filming took place on the newly reopened West Somerset Railway in 1976 and 1977, using its engines and rolling stock.
The star locomotive was ex-GWR 0-6-0PT no. 6412, built in 1934, which had previously operated branch line services and was one of the first locomotives on the West Somerset Railway. The on-screen title changed from 'The Flockton Flyer' in series 1 to 'Flockton Flyer' in series 2.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did The Flockton Flyer first broadcast?
The series premiered in the spring of 1977.
Which actors got early television roles in The Flockton Flyer?
The show provided early screen credits for performers including Peter Duncan and Gwyneth Strong, both of whom went on to have longer careers in British television.
More in British children's television series
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: The Flockton Flyer (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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